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Biography

Skream (FABRICLIVE 96)

As you may or may not be aware, every time we release an artist's CD on either of our ongoing mix series (fabric/FABRICLIVE) there happens a lot of behind the scenes conversations that are all part of the preparation. One of these is a tailor constructed artist biography that's written to give the press extra background information on the artist in question: where they were born, where they grew up, how they got into music, etc etc. In truth, these biographies often become quite enlightening documents in their own right and from now on, in the week before we release the mixes to the public, we'll be publishing the biographies here to give you, our faithful readership, the exact same additional insight.

Skream (FABRICLIVE 96)

BORN:
I was born in Farnborough and grew up in Croydon, had a fairly normal childhood to be honest. I was always a bit of a little shit which I suppose is something that's stayed with me for life!

FAMILY:
I grew up with my mum, dad and brother. My brother Hijak had a huge influence on me as it was his room I used to break into and play his records. And also him who introduced me to Big Apple records where I’d end up working and meeting Hatcha, John Kennedy and Artwork. I guess everything else is history.

MUSICAL ROOTS:
Here's me being completely honest. Between the ages of about 6-10 I was a huge East 17 fan, I saw them about 3 or 4 times. As for the music I used to buy, I’d buy more or less everything that was in the chart during those years. I was obsessed with alternate versions of single and would almost obsessively by every version of each single I could find.

When I started secondary school I got really into hip hop and rob for the first year and then when I started DJing at around 11 or 12 and I got massively into garage.

FIRST PROJECTS:
I first got into music production through seeing a friend making music on a Playstation and from that moment I became obsessed with production. I started on Music 2000 but became bored fairly quickly and the moved on to Fruity Loops 3.

FABRIC:
The first time I remember going to fabric, it was with Hatcha and a load of the Croydon crew. I’ll never forget seeing my track getting reloaded in Room Three and the MC Juiceman saying ‘that kid there is the future’. Since then I’ve been a regular at fabric. As for when I first played I really can’t remember as it was quite a while back. From crowd surfing in Room One with Benga to playing disco dressed as a Judge at the birthday a few years ago I've always had the most fun playing and the club undoubtedly has the best system in London.

I've become good friends with the staff over the years, I think anyone who grew up in London has a special place in their heart for fabric. Its been the biggest and most influential club for as long as I can remember.

THE MIX:
The mixed is all over the place style wise I’d definitely say it represents my live style of mixing. The mix was made at my home in Croydon and features 2 new tracks by myself. The first is SDN which I made around 3 years ago but have only recently been playing. Its actually one of my favourite tracks I’ve ever made. The 2nd is An Ode To Mr.Smith which is heavily influenced by the early Grain recordings on FAT CAT and as everyone is now aware was the alias of Artwork AKA Arthur Smith. My mentor at Big Apple.

There’s also an exclusive track in the mix from my Of Unsound Mind label which is a track by rising star James Burton remix by label favourites Kincaid + Sinale. Jon Randell also delivers an exclusive with the rolling monster that is Jack Tha Bass.

THE FUTURE:
Rolling with much of the same in 2018 as 2017 playing shows, making music and enjoying life.

FABRICLIVE 96: Skream is out this Friday.
Order your copy from fabric here.
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